IN FOCUS


Northern Lights Village Levi, Finnish Lapland


ASTRO-TOURISM The sky’s the limit


The night sky plays host to all manner of natural marvels, leading to a growing demand for astro-tourism experiences, says Isobel Turner


For many, prime activity time on holiday takes place during daylight hours. Mornings and afternoons are filled with swimming, sightseeing and sunbathing, while evenings are reserved for eating, drinking and, subsequently, sleeping. But now, under the cover of nightfall, a whole new world of activity is opening up. According to Booking.com’s 2025 travel


predictions report, more than half of British travellers are actively considering holidays to darker sky destinations, while Virtuoso’s round-up of the year’s biggest trends includes planning trips around celestial events. This trend, dubbed ‘astro-tourism’, sees travellers seeking experiences set against the backdrop of the night sky, whether that’s watching for meteor showers, eclipses or the aurora borealis – and its star only seems to be rising.


Right place, right time Catching a glimpse of the northern lights has been a mainstay on many people’s wish lists for years, but in 2025 the solar maximum – when


In 2025 the solar maximum reaches its peak, promising the best aurora


borealis sightings for more than a decade


the sun is at the most active part of its 11-year cycle – reaches its peak, promising the best aurora borealis sightings for more than a decade. The UK’s first specialist northern lights


operator, The Aurora Zone, has reported a 63% increase in bookings for September 1 onwards compared with the previous year, while Audley Travel has seen a spike in people heading to Iceland to catch sight of the lights. Rob Gannon, one of Audley’s Norway and Iceland specialists, says: “I’ve been selling Iceland for four or five years, and [northern lights holidays have] always been a thing. People have always wanted to do it, but it’s definitely much more popular now.” The solar maximum has also had a role to


play in bringing the aurora borealis closer to home. The phenomenon has been spotted across the UK at various points over the past two years but, surprisingly, hasn’t diluted travellers’ interest in venturing farther afield to witness the lights in their more common natural habitats. In fact,ª


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


JUNE 2025 ASPIRE


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CREDIT: Risto Hämäläinen


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